Our tree will help our garden grow

My boy cried when we took the Christmas tree down yesterday. I promised him it would be recycled and turned into mulch, and in the springtime, we can go down the road (Havana and Smith Road) and pick it up to spread on our garden.

He liked that.Denver Recycles will be collecting Christmas trees for recycling starting Jan. 5. All Denver residents whose trash is collected by Denver Public Works/Solid Waste Management may participate. Trash can and barrel customers: Set your tree at least 4 feet away from your trash container by 7 a.m. on your scheduled trash day either the week of Jan. 5 or the week of Jan. 12. Call 3-1-1 if your tree has not been picked up by 3 p.m. on your trash day during the week of Jan. 12. Dumpster customers: Set your tree out by 7 a.m. on Jan. 5 or Jan. 12. Place your Christmas tree just behind your property on the edge of the alley and make sure the tree is not placed up against or in the dumpster. Call 3-1-1 if your tree has not been collected by 3 p.m. Jan. 15.

The mulch produced from recycled tress will be available free to Denver residents in the spring at the "Treecycle Mulch Giveaway and LeafDrop Compost Sale." Residents may call 3-1-1- after April 1 for information on when the 2009 Treecycle Mulch Giveaway and LeafDrop Compost Sale will be held.